Okay, once again, I am very sorry about the late update, but I'm trying here people! I've had quite the busy week (My team got first in that tournament I told you guys about on my last update! YAY!) Anyway, I did my best with this chapter but it is still not very good. I just really wanted to give yall something. Ummm what else? Oh yeah! REVIEW! Please… I'm still disappointed in the lack of reviews and I really need ideas on what direction to lead this story in…. PS: I have a question for yall. Would you like to see action come into this story or do you like the flock getting to live somewhat normal lives? Lemme know in your reviews! Now, on with the story…

KarleeRay

"I knew it was her all along," Carter comments, referring to the Criminal Minds episode we had just watched. Carter, Ella, Iggy, Fang, Trent, Nudge and I were all gathered in the enormous living room for a "slumber party"…. Really it was just a movie night, but Nudge insisted on calling it a "slumber party".

Carter stands. "I'll take your orders as soon as you're ready," She jokes and everyone begins to call out what they want from the kitchen. She returns about ten minutes later, as Nudge and Iggy are arguing about what we are going to watch next.

"I think I should get to decide," Carter trills, passing around the food and drinks. "Since I was kind enough to bring you all food."

"I agree," I offer up, feeling Fang's arms tighten around my waist.

"You're only saying that because you know she'll pick Criminal Minds!" Nudge accuses.

I shrug, not really caring that she was on to me.

Suddenly, I feel a familiar tickle inside my head. My body tightens, every muscle bracing itself. Fang immediately notices and he grabs my chin and turns me to face him. His eyes roam over my face.

"What? What is it?"

I shake my head, praying fiercely. My breathing begins to become more labored. No Max. That hasn't happened in ages. It's over. You're fine. I feel Fang's eyes on my face, but I refuse to turn my head and let him see how freaked I am. A quick sharp pain comes into my head and I gasp against my will and grab my temple. It's gone as quickly as it came, but I am experiencing serious déjà vu and I'm almost certain about what is going to follow that sharp pain. I've only ever felt something like that a couple times…. When I had my brain explosions. Oh God, no…. Please. Please. No, anything but that.

"Max?" Fang's voice is laced with concern. I feel his hand on my shoulder, feel him pulling me into his chest. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

I look up to see that no one but Fang has noticed that I am in serious panic mode. Deep breaths, Max. You're fine. There's no pain.

Lifting my eyes to Fang's, I smile. "It's nothing. I'm fi-" And then it hits me like a ton bricks. The worst most unbelievable pain explodes inside my head. My whole body feels like it has been hit by an eighteen wheeler. I'm dying. I have to be. I clutch my head in my hands, biting down on my lip until I feel blood flow. A piercing scream fills my ears and from past experience, I know that it is me. My body writhes in agony, and I can't stop it, no matter what I try. Tears leak out of my eyes as I hear another scream, similar to the first. Oh my God! Please! Just take me! Just make it stop!

Agonizingly slowly, my body begins to stop writhing, settling down to twitches. I can begin to make out voices around me, but I don't dare open my eyes.

"Well what do you want me to do?!"

"Call !"

"What's happening? Is she going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine," Fang snaps. I feel his fingertips trailing over my body. "Please, please, please," He whispers, so softly that I am not even sure I hear it. "Max? Max can you hear me? I need you to wake up, sweetie. Let me see those pretty eyes," He murmurs directly into my ear, so close that I can feel his breath on me.

I moan softly in response.

"Please," He begs, still speaking so softly into my ear that I am not sure even the others can hear him.

Taking a deep breath, I muster up all my courage and open my eyes. Fang sighs in relief and leans down to plant a kiss on my sweaty forehead.

I look around to see Nudge crying, looking confused and horrified. "Why is this happening to you again, Max?" She sobs throwing herself onto my stomach and wrapping her arms around me. That's the million dollar question, kiddo. Why was this happening to me again? It hadn't happened in years and I thought it all had to do with my voice, or um Angel, making her way into my head. We thought we had it all figured out. The voice had to have caused the brain explosions….. we were wrong. Now what?

I shiver at the thought of more brain explosions coming around before we figure out the cause of them. Maybe I really am dying.

"Max… I don't understand…" I gaze up from Nudge's sobbing form to see Carter standing close to Trent with tears in her eyes. My mouth opens in an attempt to help her understand, to console her, but I don't know what to say, where to start, how to explain these awful attacks when I can't even comprehend them myself. My body is exhausted and forming a complete explanation doesn't seem to be something I am capable of right now. Fang, knowing me better than anyone, realizes this and stands from the couch.

"Maybe now isn't the best time for you guys to be here," He says, and I know that he knows how rude he sounds, but I know at the moment his only concern is for me.

Trent and Carter look taken aback for a moment and then slowly nod. "I'll drive you home," Trent tells Carter, as he gathers up his things from around the living room. He hesitates, looking down at me.

"I'm sorry," I say, helplessly.

"Never be sorry," He murmurs and I am shocked when he leans down and presses his lips to my forehead. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Fang tense. "Feel better, Max."

Carter tells me goodbye next, flinging her arms around me and whispering comforting words into my ear. There are a million questions in her eyes, but she keeps her mouth shut.

I give both of them weak smiles as they walk out the front door, and then shut my eyes, exhausted. Fang and Nudge's gazes are trained on me, I can feel them. I open my eyes as Iggy sits down on the couch next to me, looking upset and angry.

"I'm fine," I say, pathetically, not fooling anyone.

"Shut up," Fang snaps, furious, but I take no offense. He doesn't mean it. He's angry at the situation, not me. "You should have told me you weren't feeling well!"

"Dude chill out," Iggy coaxes and I take his hand, seeing his distraught expression.

Fang sighs, seeming to just now realize who he was lashing out at. He falls to his knees on the ground beside the coach and looks at me with pleading eyes.

"I know," I say, saving him from having to apologize. "It's okay." I lean forward and place my lips to his forehead, letting them linger for a few seconds longer than normal. He seems to take comfort in my kiss and I feel him relax just slightly.

"Carter isn't the only one who doesn't understand," Ella mutters, bitterly, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Max, what was that?"

I look to Fang for help, but it's Iggy who comes to my rescue. "Now's not the best time," He explains gently, standing up and taking her hand. "When Max feels better I'm sure she'll tell you all about it."

I nod and smile shakily. Fang takes Iggy's spot on the couch beside me and I lie down, putting my head in his lap. He strokes my sweaty hair away from my forehead. I know he's freaking out inside, but on the outside he wears his normal stoic mask.

"I feel better already. Honest." I tell them all, actually meaning it. I did feel better, slightly nauseous and completely exhausted but better, bearable.

The air in the room feels a bit lighter, everyone beginning to breathe again. "Now…. Let's finish our movie night. Get our minds off of things."

Everyone agrees and slowly my brain explosion is forgotten... by everyone except me and most likely Fang. I am practically quaking, afraid that if I close my eyes, the brain explosion will come back. I'm so confused. Why are these things back? It makes no sense.

Nudge finally wins the argument and Gone With The Wind begins to play on the flat screen. Despite my fears, Fang's hand stroking my hair quickly lolls me to sleep.